Dictionary

re-treat

re•treat

Pronunciation: (ri-trēt'),[key]—n.1. the forced or strategic withdrawal of an army or an armed force before an enemy, or the withdrawing of a naval force from action.
2. the act of withdrawing, as into safety or privacy; retirement; seclusion.
3. a place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy: The library was his retreat.4. an asylum, as for the insane.
5. a retirement or a period of retirement for religious exercises and meditation.
6. Mil.a. a flag-lowering ceremony held at sunset on a military post.
b. the bugle call or drumbeat played at this ceremony.
7. the recession of a surface, as a wall or panel, from another surface beside it.
8. beat a retreat, to withdraw or retreat, esp. hurriedly or in disgrace.

—v.i.1. to withdraw, retire, or draw back, esp. for shelter or seclusion.
2. to make a retreat: The army retreated.3. to slope backward; recede: a retreating chin.4. to draw or lead back.